Italian Meatballs (Extra Soft and Juicy!) | Family Recipes | Umami

Ingredients

• 1 lightly packed cup of diced white sandwich bread (, crusts removed, Note 1 for SUB)
• 1 small onion (brown, white or yellow)
• 14 oz / 400 g ground beef (mince)
• 3 oz / 100g ground pork (mince, or sub with more beef, Note 2)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley (, finely chopped, Note 3)
• 2 garlic cloves (, minced)
• 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano (or parmesan, freshly grated)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 ½ tbsp olive oil
• 3/4 cup onion (, finely chopped, white, brown or yellow)
• 24 oz / 700 g tomato passata (Tomato Puree in US/CAN - Note 4)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (chili flakes)
• 3 tsp dried Italian herb mix (parsley, basil, thyme, oregano)
• 1 tsp salt
• Black pepper
• Pasta of choice
• Parmesan
• Parsley (, finely chopped, optional)